Method of and apparatus for assembling members



Sept. 28 1926.

R. HOFSTETTER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING MEMBERS Filed Jan. 5'. 1926 Sept. 28 ,1926.

a. HOFSTETTER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING MEMBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5. 1926 l llllullllllll'lul Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,069

R.HOFSTETTER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING MEMBERS Filed Jan. 5/1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,069

R. HOFSTETTER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING MEMBERS Filed Jan. 5, 1926 4 Shets-Sheet 4 A w liunllnllii 1 l 0 I m a luv hum. 4 6 I\ fl 1/ w- 4 M w Y 7 Patented Sept. 28, 1926,

ROBERT HOF'STETTE OF DoWNEReGR-e'vn", ILLINOIS, essrenon TO WESTEBN'EL'EC-";

rRxceoie-renv; vtitre-11320Bim ni), IGF'NEWTYORKI'E'J n corieon'e'rmn OE 'NEW' YORK."

MET'i-Ieiiibnlaim enemies r03 ASSEMBLING MEI whites? This invention relates te a mjethqd 9f an d: apparatus for assembling membe s; and more particularly? for assembling members" of eeramie material. I r v Thisin'vention is particularly applicable in assembling protecto'ifblocks of theftyp'e used in open 1 space cutouts; commonly 'em pl )yed, in electrical circuits" as a; imean's fer rbtecting against abnormal current surges Within said circuits. These protector'blcks', parti culz'irly of a typ'e fsom'etimes usedin' tel ephonei'ei'rcuits", mayl'cemprise an eleetro'de of carbon or'other suitable material fitted and Cemented within a," surrounding block ofnon-conducting'material 'suh as porcelain" or the like. Th'e'czirbon' electrode mut b'e very accurately positioned Within th'eble'c'k, one surfe ee 0i the electrode being depressed I below'the surface of the blank associated therewith, Within the limits of few tenths f 0f 'theu'sandths of an ineh. This degree of depressionre 'jies'entsf th'e size f th'e' pe-n space 'air 'g'ztp f ormecl between the depressed surface oir' the carbon electrode and a second electrode or block of co'iidu'c-ting material bearing against the surfice pf 't-heuien-cen dueting'block'in service Unless the size of the "air'gap is 'n'i'ziintained' Withinthje abbve" mentioned limits, current surgeswithin the circuit mayfeither retard 0r prematurely cause an jel'eetrical discharge across the g p and obviously under such circumstances the assembled block end electrode would be rendered inefieetive as a circuit" protecting" device. 44 7 7 1 Objects of the present'inventionare" to provide an'improved method of andiappa ratus' for accurately assembling ceramic members in an eflieient end economical man ner; r j V v To attainthese' and Other' objects and in accordance With thegeneralfeatures of'the" invention, an apparatus is provided which includes avertical magazine designed to re cei've' a stackdf protector'bloeksi Thje porf j celein members softhe bleek's Within"the magazine have been previeu'slyessembled with carbon electrodes cemented therein, 0ne surface of'the' assembly having been subjectedto a lappingfor grinding-operation to? render the surfeees' of the porcelain bldck member and electrode eoplanafrf The 'lotve r most protector block in the meg-twine is 'fed inteen elongated; electi'ically'" heated" fur? e nacethrough which the blocks are advanced step by' stepaflsuh a rate as torender the blckleaves the furnace? E'ziek 'blocik upon" emerging from the furnace is fed-"into: a p'osi tloning mechanism wherein itls ahgnedyvith the upper extremities of plunger members WhICh subsequently engagethe' lower sur' face of the block and electrode- 1 s'o'asito accurately establishthepes'ition of'one with During this operation the in the" other.

electrode is shiftedorjdepressedfuntil the upper surfaee vthereof is afpredetermined distance, which maybe only a" few thousandthsof enin'eh below lthesurfeee of the" bl0ek' ess'0'c1ated therewith; The bonding cement is then" quickly rehz irdened by a.

seem- 0f eir; The a'djust'e'd assemblvis e ebted'an'd trzins ferredto a suitable receiv ingf. tray.

& completeeyclebt Opereti dnf resulting from ea'c'hf revolution of the shaft;

These and ether objeets fend n mes, Will be appfai ent from the follb'wingfdetziiled 'descrlption'when "considered in connection With thefeceoinpanyi'ng drawings, WlliClI-f I The: cuope'rziting parts of the apparatus are driven from a mam" cam shaft,

Vievvf of an assembly" apparatus dise 'losin'gf an ei'nbed mentof the"'1nvent1bn,' with pornon of the sub framebrekenavvay to (11$? Fi'gi l' 'is a 'fragm-entaryfvertical section taken onthe lii'i'e 445 of'Fig. 2 With" a protector block shown in dotted lines ithin the positioning" mechanism;

Fig. 5. is a horizontal deteile'd section taken on the 1ine}55 ofFigQ- 2;

Fig/"6 is' a detailed transverse vertical section 0f the positigning*mehhanisln taken on the'line 6-6 of Fig, 5, the plunger meme hers thereof beingdisclsed inoperative engagement with a positioned protector block;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal transverse section thereof taken on theline 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing in detail the lateral positioning mechanism and ejector bar; 7

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevational view of an assembled protector block. representative of the type adapted to be fed into the machine disclosed in Fig 1;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of the protector block till-I011 on the line 101O of Fig 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section of the block taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is a similar sectional view. showing the protector block in association with a companion carbon electrode, the electrode within the block being disclosed in its final depressed position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the disclosure the assembly apparatus includes a machine frame 15 suitably secured to a horizontal frame 16 the frame being formed with a bearing member 17 at one end and a similar bearing member 18 at the other end thereof. A cam shaft 19 (Fig. 2) is disposed between and rotatably mounted in the bearing members 1? and 18. a spur gear 20 being keyed to the cam shaft 19 adjacent to the bearing member 18. h'leshing' with the gear 20 is a smaller gear 21 which is formed integral with a clutch collar 22 rotatable upon a horizontal drive shaft 23. This drive shaft 23 may be mounted in hearing members (not shown) secured to the frame plate 16 and driven from a suitable source of power (not shown). Clutch teeth 21 (Fig. 1) formed in the engaging surface of the clutch collar 22 are designed for engagement with companion teeth formed in a clutch member 26 secured to the shaft 2 3 and having an annular groove 2T formed therein. A hand wheel 30 secured to the outer extremity of a shaft 31 2) revoluble within a bearing formed on the front surface of a sub frame 32. is adapted upon rotation to carry the clutch member 26 into and out of engagement with the clutch collar 22 through the medium of an eccentric head 33 provided at the inner extremity of the shaft 51 and designed for actuation within the groove 27. i. fixed shaft 3%. parallel with the cam shaft 19 and the drive shaft is journaled between bearing members formed in the ends of the sub frame 32 (Fig. Mounted upon the cam shaft 19 adjacent to the bearing member 1? (Fig. 4) is a feed cam 36. which is adapted upon rotation to actuate a protector block feeding mechanism 37 (Fig. 2) which will hereinafter be fully described.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 5 it Will be observed that a frame block 38 bolted to the upper surface of the frame plate 16 supplies a mounting for the lower extremity of a vertical magazine 39. This magazine 39 is designed to receive a plurality of protector blocks a1 of the type shown (Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive). These protector blocks 41 are comprised of a channeled porcelain member 412 and a carbon electrode fitting in an elongated opening therein and rigidly secured in position by a small portion of bonding cement {lei applied at each end thereof adjacent to the member -12 (Fig. 10). In this connection it is to be understood that the upper surfaces of the electrode i3 and companion member 42 (Figs. 10 and 11) have been previously subjected to a grinding or lapping operation to render said surfaces coplanar. The necessity of having these surfaces in coplanar relation will be readily understood as the description of the apparatus progress *1. The blocks 41 are placed horizontally with their lapped surfaces uppermost within the magazine 39, the lowermost block ling carried by gravity into a position to be advanced by the feeding mechanism 3? into a horizontal track 45 confined within an electric furnace 4-6.

The protector block feeding mechanism 37 2 and 5) includes an actuating finger carried by a vertical fixture 18 suitably ecured to the upturned portion of a horiz n al slide rod (Fig. 2). This rod 50 reciprocaljily mounted within the frame r and a guide block 51 mounted upon he frame plate 16. The inner end of the slide rod 50 engages a roller carried at the upper extremity of a bell crank arm 53. the arm being angularly related to and formed integral with a companion crank arm 5-1 which carries a roller 55 engaging the upper surface of the feed cam 36. l coil spring 56 interposed between the guide block 51 and a depending pin 57 secured at the outer extremity of the slide rod 50, serves to yieldingly maintain contact be tween the rod 50 and the roller of the arm and as a consequence thereof the roller 55 of the arm 51 is maintained in operative engagement with the surface of the cam 36. From the true form of tl e feed cam 36 as disclosed in Fig. 3 it will be obvious that during each cycle of rotation. the roller 55 will experience a quick downward movement which will result in a relative advancing' movement of the finger 47. The movement thus imparted to the finger 47 is suiiicient to adv; nce the lowermost block 11 within the magazine 39 into the furnace 4G and as the finger 17 is sub vquently retracted it will clear the succeeding lowermost block within the magazine. Thus it will be understood. that the next protector block advanced by the finger 17 will engage with the first mentie'ned protector blockand upon the suc'c'e'ss'ive reciprocation of the finger 47 a;

series of said blocks will be advanced through the furnace on"- the track 45. The

heat within the furnace 46 is reg'nlated so within-and supported by a frame housing suitably s'ecuredto the upper surface of the frame plate 16 (Fig; Piston members 61',-62,'-and 63 are vertically disposed-within thehousingj 60, each piston being provided its lowerend with an adjustable engaging n'ut364, 65,'and 66, respectively. These nuts ctfoperat'e' with the free ends of hinged arms 68, 69, and 70, respectively. These arms 68, 69 and 70 are each provided with a roller follower which engages with the respective surfaces of cams 71, 72, and 7 3, the opposite closed. ends of the arms being hingedly mountedupon the shaft 34' (Fig. 2). It will be observed that the feederc'am 36 and the cams 71, 72; and 7 3- are secured to spacing collars-'74 which are keyed to the cam shaft 19. Contact betweenthe engaging nut 64 and the arm 68 is maintained throughthe medium or" a coil spring 75 (Fig. 4) interposed between a piston cap 76' and the lower surface of block'nrember 77 suitably secured to the upper portion'of the frame housing 60. A coil spring 80 positioned between the piston 62 and a stop screw 81 maintains the engagement of the nut'65 with 1 the arm 69 and likewise a coil spring 82' between the piston 63 and a screw stop 83 niaintains' thecont'act of the nut 66 with the arm 70.

van'ce's irom within the furnace it is slid alon'g'the" upper surface or the block m'em Rttention is now directed to certain co operating parts of the positioning mechanism'59 located at the upper end thereof. From the description hereinbeior'e set forth .in' connection with the operating characteristics of the furnace 46, it will be remembered that protector blocks are fed through said furnace and advanced to the positioning ine ciianis'm 59; Asa protector block adher 77 and will assume the position shown by the dotted lines (Fig. 4'). It will thus be brought to rest between the forward end of an ejector bar 84 and th'e inner surface screw 1001s adapted to retalnth'e arm 98 of apositioning finger 85? Referring to Figs. 4*and 8 t will be readily understood that this positioning finger 85 is formed at right angles toan'd at the i-orward extremity of a shank 86;wh1eh 1s longitudlnally slide able withintheejector bar 84. When a protector bleck 41 is carried along the surface of the-block member 7 7 as hereinbefor'e described, the opening formed betweenthe finger 85 and the end of the ejector bar 84 is suiiicient in width to allow the protector block to be fed therebetWeenL- Immediately subsequent to the advancement of the pro tector blo'oltga vertical bar 87 (F igs. 1 and 8) which is mounted at its lower endin an arm 88 secured to and extending laterally fromthe lower end of the piston 62,--is

actuatedupwardly by the operation of the V can r 72-. The upper extremity of the vertical bar 87 is beveled and is adapted to engage with companion beveled surfaces provided on-the shank-86 and the ejector bar 84g the engagement resulting in the shank 86 and the linger 85 being actuated to the right" (Fig. 4). This movement of the finger 85 is suiiicient to cause a protector block positioned between the finger and the ejectorsprings 93 coiled about the lower ends of the plunger members and interposed between the bottom of a chamber 94 formed in the upper portion ofthe piston" 61 and shoulders 95 provided on the plunger members.-

The cap 76" suitably secured to the upper end of the piston 61 serves to limit theup'ward movement of the'plunger members 91 and 92 occasioned by the action of the springs 93. Immediately following'the above mentioned alignin'goperation of the finger 85,-the cam 71 functions to actuate the piston 61 upvialrdly, thereby bringing the upper ends of the plungers 91' into contact with the lowersurface of the positioned porcelain member 42 and the plunger members 92 into contact with the lower surface of its companion carbon electrode 43. The protector block 41 is thus carried upwardly intoflconta'ct with the lower surface of a head 96 secured within ahead biock 97. This head block 97 is provided with an arm 98 formed at right angles thereto, said 'armbeing hingedly mounted on the outer side of the frame housing 60 adjacent to the upper suriiace'of the irameplate 16. A conventional thumb in its normal vertical position as" disclosed throughout" the va'rious'figuresr When it is desired; to sii'unig'the head 96 and block 97 away from the frame housing 60, for the purpose ofcleamn'g and the like, it is only necessary to turn the thumb screw 100, 90 and swing a locking hook 99 to the left (Fig. 1).

Referring to the head 96 as disclosed in Figs. st, 0, and 7 it will be observed that the head is formed with a central elongated depending portion 101 which engages with the upper surface of the carbon electrode 43 when the plunger members 91 and 92 carry a positioned protector block e1 into engagement with the head as described. The depending portion 101 of the head 96 causes the carbon electrode 43 to be depressed within its companion porcelain member a2 a few thousandths of an inch, the bonding cement having been previously heated to a plastic state. lvhile the plunger members 91 and 92 thus yieldingly hold the positioned protector block against the surface of the head 90, a cam 102 mounted upon the cam shaft 19 and adjacent to the spur gear 20 operatively engages with a roller follower carried at the free end of a hinged arm 103 (Fig. 2). A lug 10-l formed on the arm 103 is thereby brought into engagement with an actuating button 105 of an air valve mechanism 106 connected with a source of compressed air supply (not shown) by means of a conduit 10?. This valve mechanism is also connected, throughthe medium of a pipe line 108, with the lower end of the hinged arm 98. A passageway 110 extending throughout the length of the arm 98 communicates at its upper extremity with an annular passageway 111 formed within the head block 97 and surrounding the head 96. An opening 112 extending transversely of the head 96 serves to communicate the annular passageway 111 with a pair of apertures 113 vertically disposed within the head. From the foregoing it will be clear that when the lug 10% of the arm 103 engages the button 105 of the valve mechanism 106 a stream of air will be permitted to flow through the pipe line 108, thence into the passageway 110 of the hinged arm 98 to the annular passageway 111 and finally through the vertical apertures 113. A pair of vertical openings 11 i within the head 96 (Figs. 6 and 7) oppositely disposed from the apertures 113 permit of the egress of air after it has been directed against the bonding cement 141- of the positioned protector block d1. The stream of air is directed to the block for a period of time which is suflicient to cause the hardening or setting of the cement. At the end of this period the cam 71 operates to lower the plunger members 91 and 92 and the cam 102 functions to cut off the air supply by actuating the valve mechanism 106. Immediately subsequent to the above mentioned functioning of the cams 71 and 102, a depression in the cam 73 permits the piston 63 to be actuated downwardly with the result that a lever arm 115 having a universal, ball connection with the piston 63 is quickly actuated to the left (Fig. 41). The upper end of the lever arm 115 is lodged within a recess formed on the underside of a bracket member 116 secured to the end of the ejector bar 81 by means of screws 117 and it will be obvious that the above mentioned actuation of the lever arm 115 will carry the ejector bar, which is slidably mounted in guide bars 118, forwardly. The projector block lodged bctween the finger 85 and the forward end of the ejector bar will be moved along the upper surface of the block member 77 and finally delivered to a suitable receiving chute 119. During this ejection operation of the ejector bar 8%, a fabric wiper 120 carried by said bar at the forward end thereof, serves to wipe the surface of tin: depending portion 101 of the head 90 and thereby remove any foreign matter which may have been deposited thereon. Such foreign matter, if permitted to remain on the surface of the portion 101 might cause the shifting of the carbon electrode of the succeeding protector block within its companion porcelain member to he in excess of the permissible limits of the required depression. The protector blocks delivered to the chute 119 are in condition to be assembled with companion carbon electrodes 121, which as disclosed in Fig. 12, are adapted to bear against the surface of the porcelain members 42 and an air gap 122 thus formed between the electrodes 121 and 13 will be within the dimensional requirements to effectively serve as a protecting means against current surges within the circuit to which the assembly may be applied.

In operation, protector blocks of the type disclosed are fed into the vertical magazine 39. Power supplied to the drive shaft 23 from a suitable source (not shown) results in the rotation of the cam shaft 19 upon manipulation of the hand wheel through the medium of the gears 20 and 21. The rotation of the feed cam 36 causes the oscillation of the bell crank arms 53 and and the consequent horizontal reciprocation of the finger 47 of the feeding mechanism 37. By means of the successive reciprocations of the finger 4L7. protector blocks are fed from the lower end of the magazine 39 and advanced into alignment within the electric furnace 46. The heat within the furnace renders the cement 14E of the advancing protector blocks plastic and as each block emerges from said furnace it is fed into the positioning mechanism 59. The cam 72 the-n actuates the piston 62- and the ver t-ical bar 87 carried thereby, with the result that the finger is actuated so as to effect the proper lateral alignment of the prolee cam 71. The depending portion 101 of the h aslfifi eelisest ie pp r u f e f he bon electr ode tb within the positioned protecto-r block to be shifted or depressed afew thousandths of an inch below the correspondingisurface of its-companion porcelain member '42. While the protector block is thus gripped between the head 96 and the plunger members 91 and 92 a stream of air is directed against said block, this stream of air being directed from the valve mechanism 106 which is controlled by means of the cam 102. After the cam. 71 has permitted the lowering of the plunger members 91 and 92 and the cam 102 has caused the supply of air to be cut off, the cam 7 3 permits the lowering of the piston 63. The lowering of the piston 63 causes the lever arm 115 to actuate the ejector bar 84 and the positioned protector block is subsequently delivered to the receiving chute 119. Attention is invited to the diagrammatic views of the cams shown in Fig. 3 wherein the true form and relative positions of the cam surfaces are disclosed with the view of clearly disclosing the timing thereof.

Although the invent-ion as herein illustrated and described is particularly well adapted for use in connection with apparatus for assembling protector block parts, it should be understood that the novel features thereof are capable of other applica tions and should" be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: b

1. A method of establishing accurate relationship between bonded members, which consists in rendering the bonding material of the members soft-by means of heat, accurately shiftingone member with respect to the other, and then applying a stream of gaseous medium directly to the heated bonding material.

1 A method of establishing accurate relationship between the bonded carbon elec-- trode and insulating member of a protector block, which consists in feeding blocks in a continuous train through a heating chamber to soften the bonding material, applying a yielding force to an electrode and associated insulating member upon emergence from the chamber to accurately shift one with respect to the other, and then subjecting the associated bonding material to a stream. of air while the electrode and insulating member are being held in shifted relation.

3. In an assembling apparatus for positioning bonded members, meansfor heating the bond ng materlal of the members, a posltloning mechanism designed to accurately shift members, and means for advancing the members from theheating means to the positioning mechanism. V i 4l. II1 an assembling apparatus for posi t oning bonded members, means for heating t sitioning mechanism designed to accurately shift members, means for a dvancingheated members to the positioning .nieclianism, and means 1 for subjecting the bonding material the positioned members to a cooling mediumto effect the quick setting meteor."

In an assembling apparatus for positioning bonded members, means for heating the bonding material of the members, a positioning mechanism adapted to engage opposed surfaces of each of the bonded members and accurately shift one with respect to the other, and means for advancing heated members to the positioning mecha- IllSIIl.

6. In an assembling apparatus for positioning associated block members, a positioning mechanism designed to accurately arrange the relative positions of the associated block members, a magazine for the block members, and means for advancing associated block members from the maga zine to the positioning mechanism.

7. In an assembling apparatus for posi positioning mechanism designed to accu rately shift one member with respect to the other, and means for advancing bonded members from the softening means to the positioning mechanism.

8. In an assembling apparatus for positioning bonded members, heating means for rendering the bonding material of the members soft, a positioning mechanism designed to accurately shift one member with respect to the other, means for advancing members from the'heating means to the positioning mechanism, and means for causing the bonding material to set quickly after the positioning operation. v

9. In an assembling apparatus for positioning bonded members, means for softening the bonding material of the members, a fixed positioning member, yielding positioning plunger members, said positioning members adapted to cooperate in accurately establishing relative positions of the bonded members, mechanism for receiving and accurately locating bonded members in position to be acted upon by the positioning members, and means for advancing bonded members from the softening means to the locating mechanism.

10. In an assembling apparatus for posi- 1 he bonding material of the. members, a potioning bonded members, a heating chamber for softening the bonding material of the members, a positioning mechanism adapted to accurately establish relative positions of bonded members, a container for the members, and a reciprocating mechanism designed to intermittently feed members from the container into the heating chamber and advance said members in a step by step manner through the heating chamber to the positioning mechanism.

11. In an assembling apparatus for positioning bonded members, a heating means for softening the bonding material of the members, a positioning mechanism designed to accurately establish relative positions of bonded members, means for advancing members to the heating means and positioning mechanism, means for applying a stream of air to the softened bonding nialerial, and a mechanism comprising a plurality of timed cams driven from a common source, designed to actuate the feeding means, positioning mechanism, and air applying means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22 day of December, A. D. 1925.

ROBERT HOFSTETTER. 

